New York man sentenced to 4 years for transporting oxycodone pills in his underwear into Maine

PORTLAND, Maine — A New York man will spend four years behind bars for bringing more than 1,200 oxycodone pills hidden in his boxers to Portland on a bus.

Michael Falu, 26, of New York City also was sentenced to three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

Falu was arrested in November with Trisha Sproul, 35, of Warren, at a Portland bus station. He pleaded guilty in May to one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and possession of oxycodone. She pleaded guilty in June to the drug conspiracy charge.

Sproul’s sentencing date has not been set.

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Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration learned Falu was on his way to Maine from a confidential informant, according to a previously published report. As passengers got off in Portland, the agent observed a man later identified as Falu exit the bus, enter the terminal through a door not usually used by passengers, and walk to the front of the ticket counter.

After observing a text message on his phone, Falu walked into the parking lot and got into a blue Dodge Caravan driven by Sproul, according to court documents. When Falu was removed from the rear passenger seat and patted down, a package of what felt like pills was found in the crotch area of his clothing.

Falu was secured in handcuffs, but Guay couldn’t retrieve the pills because “they appeared to be in the lining of his boxer shorts and could not easily be removed,” court documents said. Falu was taken to the Cumberland County Jail after his identification was confirmed.

The bag found in Falu’s boxers contained approximately 1,249 pills, according to a previously published report.

Falu faced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Sproul faces the same penalties.